Foreign & Commonwealth Office From the Private Secretary 1 July 2015 Dear ETHIOPIA: ANDARGACHEWTSEGE 1. The Foreign Secretary continues to be deeply concerned that, a year after he was first detained, British National Andargachew Tsege remains in solitary confinement in Ethiopia with no legal process meeting international norms to challenge his detention. HMA Addis Ababa has been granted access to Tsege on only three occasions; The most recent of these visits raised concern about Tsege's physiCal and mental health. Our repeated requests for regularised consular access have not been granted, despite multiple assurances given to the Foreign Secretary by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros. 2. There continues to be sil!llificant mess. Pllrli"mpnt"ry and NGO interest in Tsege's case. - 3. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Tedros on 24 June (the anniversary of Tsege's detention) and set out our frustration and concern: he had raised the case with Tedros on 15 separate occasions, with no substantive progress. The Foreign Secretary warned that we now had no choice but to go public; Following the call, the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement outlining his concerns (see attached) and the possible implications for our relationship. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Tedros again on 30 June. There had been no concrete progress, but Tedros confirmed that Tsege could be moved to a normal prison (where regular consular visits could start) and that his family could visit him. 8_000152 would be when the Secretary of State for International Development visits Addis Ababa for the Financing for Development conferen~ on ~3-16. July. I 5. The Prime Minister wrote to Hailemariam last year to express concern. . The Foreign Secretary therefore recommends that the Prime Minister writes again to his counterpart to emphasise our disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress on this case, despite our otherwise successful partnership. 6. The Prime Minister may also wish to write to Tsege's partner to express support for her situation over the past year. She has lobbied consistently on her husband's behalf and has been the source of some unhelpful media. But she has remained relatively even-tempered given the circumstances. Yours ever, (Private Secretary) NOlO 8_000153